Exploring Bioactive Metabolites From Fusarium falciforme and Aspergillus terreus Isolated From Protease‐Rich Fruits: Antifungal, Antitrypanosomal, and Enzymatic Inhibitory Activities

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Abstract
Fungal secondary metabolites display remarkable chemical diversity and biological potential, with applications in agriculture and pharmaceuticals. This study isolated and characterized bioactive metabolites from two phytopathogenic fungi, Fusarium falciforme (from papaya) and Aspergillus terreus (from pineapple), assessing their antifungal and cysteine protease‐inhibitory activities. The compounds hymeglusin, fusaridioic acid A, and butyrolactone I exhibited significant antifungal effects, with hymeglusin (IC 50 22.12 µg/mL) inhibiting A. terreus and butyrolactone I (IC 50 39.72 µg/mL) inhibiting F. falciforme . These metabolites also strongly inhibited papain, with IC 50 values of 6.24 µM (butyrolactone I), 9.38 µM (hymeglusin), and 28.58 µM (fusaridioic acid A). Butyrolactone I exhibited the highest antitrypanosomal activity (IC 50 24.72 µM), highlighting its antiparasitic potential. These findings emphasize the biotechnological significance of fungal metabolites for antifungal, protease‐inhibitory, and antiparasitic applications while also shedding light on their ecological role in host–pathogen interactions.
Funding Information
  • Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (Finance Code 001)
  • Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (# 2023/12463‐7)

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